Creamy Avocado Pasta Dish (Print Version)

Vibrant pasta tossed in a creamy avocado sauce with fresh herbs and a touch of lemon zest.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine
02 - Salt, to season pasta water

→ Avocado Sauce

03 - 2 ripe avocados, halved and pitted
04 - 1 garlic clove, peeled
05 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
07 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
09 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

11 - Fresh basil leaves
12 - Extra grated Parmesan
13 - Lemon zest (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti or linguine according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
02 - In a food processor or blender, combine avocados, garlic, basil leaves, lemon juice, olive oil, Parmesan, chili flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust sauce consistency with reserved pasta water as needed.
03 - Toss hot drained pasta with avocado sauce, adding additional reserved pasta water to evenly coat the noodles.
04 - Divide pasta onto plates. Garnish with extra Parmesan, fresh basil, and lemon zest if desired. Serve immediately.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout, and tastes a hundred times better.
  • The avocado sauce is so silky and rich, you won't believe there's no cream involved.
  • It's the kind of dish that feels fancy but requires almost no effort or skill.
02 -
  • The avocados must be perfectly ripe, if they're hard or under-ripe, the sauce will be grainy and bland.
  • Don't skip the reserved pasta water, it's the secret to a sauce that hugs the noodles instead of clumping at the bottom of the bowl.
  • This dish is best eaten immediately, avocado sauce doesn't hold well and can oxidize and turn brown within an hour or two.
03 -
  • Blend the sauce while the pasta cooks so everything is ready at the same time, timing is everything with this dish.
  • Taste the sauce before tossing and adjust the lemon, salt, or Parmesan, a small tweak can make a huge difference.
  • Use a high-speed blender if you have one, it creates a creamier, silkier sauce than a food processor.
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